Sharing Our Call 1 was held from October 23rd – 25th at the Marist Brothers Center in Esopus. Fifteen participants from 5 schools (Central Catholic High School, Mount St. Michael Academy, Archbishop Molloy High School, Marist Catholic in Eugene, and Christopher Columbus High School) were joined by Tommy Salaimanee (Esopus volunteer) and Marist Postulants David Freiler and Miguel Garcia. A-list presenters included Br. Michael Flanigan, Br. Brian Poulin, Alice Miesnik, Jim O’Neill, Andres Novela, Scott Kuhner, and Ed Kennedy.
The weather cooperated and the group was able to enjoy being outside and taking in peak upstate New York foliage. The program began with Mass on Sunday and included talks on Marcellin Champagnat and his Marist spirituality and what it means to be a Marist educator in a Marist school. On Monday afternoon, the group covered Youth Culture, followed by a witness talk on Becoming Marist. Ed Kennedy finished the gathering Tuesday morning with an outdoor activity on Finding the Balance.
Throughout the program, the group responded to the talks with their own wisdom and insights. Much was learned, not only in the presentations, but also in the conversations over meals and during socials. And everyone loved the meals prepared by Esopus chef Henry Miller.
